What Mitt Romney Left Behind: The People Who Bought His House Tell Their Story

Buying a house is usually an impersonal transaction. The buyer sees a scrubbed version of the home, artfully “staged,” possibly with a fresh coat of paint and flowers on the table. Once a purchase price has been negotiated, the buyer and the seller sign legal papers in triplicate, and the new owner gets a set of keys and – if lucky – an extra garage door opener. So, when Hal and Corinne Prewitt decided to buy Mitt and Ann Romney’s Park City, Utah home in spring of 2009, they figured they were in for another paperwork hassle. What they got, however, was a great house, interesting interactions with the man who’d just lost a bid to be the previous election’s GOP nominee, and some insight into the character of the possible next President. In fact, their interaction with Romney was so different than what the Prewitts expected, Hal decided to write down his experience in a Google document which has since been downloaded over 100,000 times.

First of all, the Prewitts were impressed – and a little shocked — when Mitt Romney met them at the property on moving day. There were no brokers or anyone there at the house – just the former governor walking around the house to make sure the new owners were comfortable and familiar with their purchase. “He spent as much time as we needed showing us around, answering our questions and explaining how to use and service the home’s equipment,” Hal wrote. “And when he was done, he gave us his direct contact information should we have problems.

Secondly, the Prewitts were fascinated by the way Governor Romney – worth, by some calculations, hundreds of millions of dollars – decided to move his things. Some people hire professional movers to pack their things, others hire them to transport them, and others prefer a do-it-yourself approach. Governor Romney fit into the last category. He went to Home Depot, bought wood, and built the necessary containers to transport his possession from the house. Then, he asked a friend and some family to help him pack his family photos, mementos, and grandchildren’s toys. Then, they carried his things into a U-Haul, which he drove to his new home in California.

The home, according to the Prewitts, was built with a focus on their family, even though it had “no swimming pool, tennis court or movie theater. There are no maid, butler or nanny quarters. Clearly Ann and Mitt raised their kids. No gold faucets, no fancy silverware. The kitchen was simple and typical of an average three bedroom home, very much like those in which we were raised.” Because the Prewitts bought much of the home’s contents, they also got to see the way the family really lived in their home: the linens didn’t have the highest thread count, the master bedroom pillows had tags from a discount store, and almost everything — the art, furniture and drapes — were American made.

Plus, there were lots of toys for the grandchildren. Also, in the Romney’s former mud room, Hal and Corinne found the former governor’s ski gloves with holes in the fingers. Apparently, one of Mitt’s sons had suggested he replace the gloves, but Gov. Romney, whom his sons have described as “frugal” and even “cheap,” thought he could salvage them. When Hal and Corinne found the gloves, they’d been altered.

“Mitt had gone to the garage tool box and wrapped them with duct tape. Thrifty? Yes, and the repair provided an immediate practical solution rather than traveling to the store to buy a new pair,” Hal wrote. “His indifference to appearance demonstrated his confidence, true character and priorities. Good qualities, but easily misunderstood because they are quite different from those displayed by many famous people and certainly politicians, who highly protect and prize their appearance.”

In the Romney’s master bedroom, was a prominent painting of Jesus Christ. “Most Americans know little about Mormonism and we didn’t either,” Hal wrote. “But Mitt Romney clearly had a home of faith and family just like the rest of us.”

“One of the most interesting questions many have asked is, ‘as president will he impose his beliefs on others?’” Hal wrote. “Many claim that a President Romney would take away rights and impose his beliefs on all Americans.” However, possibly the most surprising discovery was a small stash of alcohol in the house, which – the Prewitts were told – was for guests only. Mormonism prohibits drinking alcohol, of course, and the Romneys are teetotalers. However, they kept a few drinks on hand to be good hosts and make sure their guests felt comfortable. Hal believes this stash shows the Romneys wouldn’t impose their beliefs on others from the White House, because they didn’t even impose their beliefs on others in their own house.

The Prewitts didn’t support Romney in the 2008 election. Neither Republicans nor Democrats, they knew very little about Romney, Utah, or his former Presidential bid when they looked for a winter home. However, they felt they needed to speak out, because the caricature of Romney on television is such a far cry from the real man who showed him around the house and packed his own boxes that day.

“Mitt Romney… is not aloof or out of touch. He is a man of faith, family and American values. A guy who is well-grounded. It is not beneath him to roll up his shirt-sleeves and get the job done,” Hal wrote. “The fact that he has allowed this to be kept so very private is a true testament to his character and shows how different he is from many other politicians.”

If Romney wins in November, he’ll be faced with yet another move. Will the new President show up at the White House in a U-Haul? With $16 trillion of national debt, it just might be a move in the right direction.

h/t to Patheos.com

Mitt – A Big Hearted Caring and Decent Guy… Who Can Fix the Economy

Related:

How Mitt and Ann Romney Helped Me Get Through My Husband’s Deployment

Don’t Believe the Media: Romney Was (and Is) Right

Hal Pruitt: The Mitt Romney we know - Insight into the man & his family

In testimonials, Romney’s faith and selflessness takes spotlight

Olympians endorse Romney and address 2012 Republican Convention

Democrat Jane Edmonds, Former Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, addresses the 2012 Republican National Convention

Mitt Romney: What I Learned at Bain Capital

Mitt Romney Tells the Truth, Media Recoils in Horror

FNC’s Democrat Kirsten Powers Slams ‘Utterly Insane’ Media ‘Obsession’ With Attacking Romney

Ohio Coal Miners Turn Out En Masse For Romney Rally

Romney Tells Israel: “You Built That!”

Fact Check: Romney’s worked mostly without salary

About Mitt Romney

Multiple Sclerosis-Afflicted Neil Cavuto Slams MSNBC’s Attacks on Ann Romney: ‘Horse’s Asses’…

Pro-Mitt Argument of the Day

The Choice: Mitt Romney or Barack Obama

Progressive NBC Media Anchorman Brian Williams Evokes Romney’s Sense of Humor

Our Future Vice President

Romney outlines $500 billion in annual pay, workforce, program cuts

If you think you still need to know more about Mitt Romney here are a few reading suggestions: The Real Romney, No Apology, Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games, The Mormon Way of Doing Business: How Nine Western Boys Reached the Top of Corporate America And check out his detailed plan at: http://www.mittromney.com/

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Mitt – A Big Hearted Caring and Decent Guy… Who Can Fix the Economy

Romney’s life has been characterized by little-told stories of generosity and service

PHOTO: Charles Krupa/AP – h/t to the Daily

Mitt Romney, seen above visiting a Lutheran church in New Hampshire; a man who does not talk about his good deeds. As his wife Ann has said, “Mitt doesn’t like to talk about how he has helped others because he sees it as a privilege, not a political talking point.”  and Greg Gutfeld co-host of the Five and host of Redeye observed, “Mitt Romney is an alpha-male in a religion that prizes humility… ”

Mitt Romney is a big hearted caring and decent guy whose main hobbies are his family and his faith, which includes helping others, and based on feedback from those who know him he is funny, generous with both his time and money, and has endless energy that he will use along with his business expertise to turn America and our sinking economy around.  Mitt Romney has never failed at anything he has done, says his wife Ann, and “Mitt will not fail” as president of the United States if we give him the opportunity.

Ann and Mitt Romney with 16 of their 18 grandchildren… two more have been born since this photo was taken

Up until the Republican National Convention in Tampa most people paying attention to the election process seemed to feel that Romney (and his VP choice Paul Ryan) were capable of turning our Country around including: creating a climate that would create private sector jobs, reducing the debt, lowering the ever rising costs of everything from milk to gasoline, taking on government entitlement spending to make sure necessary programs would survive for future generations, and even restoring our AAA credit rating, etc.  But some people still didn’t feel that they really knew Mitt Romney and in our present day 24-hour media cycle and touchy feely world that connection is more important than ever before.

Mitt is a private humble man but many believe the reluctance of highlighting his Mormonism has kept the tales of his generosity and service out of the political limelight, even more.  But the words of Ann and Mitt Romney and Mormon speakers at the RNC, marking a sharp departure from Romney's reticence on faith, seem to have turned the tide and made a whole lot of people say… “I like that guy… I like those guys…  I can see them in the White House and think they can do the job America needs!”.

The Daily:

One cold December day in the early 1980s, Mitt Romney loaded up his Gran Torino with firewood and brought it to the home of a single mother whose heat had been shut off just days before Christmas.  This is one story surrounded by considerable lore but unknown to most advisers — Romney seems to only have alluded to it once publicly, in 2007.  Romney got a phone call from a Mormon bishop in Utah who said the adult daughter of one of his members — a single mother who did not belong to the church — needed help. The woman’s heating oil had been turned off in the dead of winter.  He enlisted his young sons to help, loading up his Gran Torino with firewood, he drove the car from his family’s house in the Boston suburb of Belmont to the woman’s home in the Dorchester neighborhood downtown.

“I remember well loading it all up,” Tagg Romney recalled. “And we drove it to her house and made a fire for her and dropped off quite a bit of firewood so the family would be able to keep warm.”

Years after a business partner and close family friend, who worked with Mitt at Boston Consulting Group and later at the private equity firm Bain Capital, died unexpectedly of a heart attack, Romney helped the man’s surviving daughter, Ellen Hummel, who was only 5 when her dad died, with loans for tuition to help her pay tuition at Columbia Medical School; loans he forgave when she graduated.

“I went to him asking him for help and he freely gave it,” said Dr. Ellen K. Hummel, today a general practitioner at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Just before graduation, she received a note from Romney, forgiving the loan. “It was a Christmas letter,” she said. “It was something caring and it was something saying ‘This is a gift.’ ”

Then there’s Kim Clark, the president of Brigham Young University-Idaho… When an adverse reaction to medication landed his 16-year-old son Michael in the hospital in 1997, Clark turned to Romney.

“I called Mitt because I wanted to give Michael a blessing,” Clark told The Daily. “Whenever in our family we had situations arise we always called Mitt because we knew he would always come.” Even after it was clear the teenager would recover, Romney remained at the hospital with the family through the night.

Stories like these — of long hours spent with grieving families, financial assistance to those in need and timely help given to strangers whether asked for or not — abound in the adult life of the Republican presidential candidate. Many of them, but definitely not all, are connected to his work as a Mormon bishop.

And yet these stories have been largely absent on the campaign trail.

Some supporters believe Mitt isn’t touting them because it’s impossible to separate the good works he’s done from his Mormon faith, which might have been partially true, but as his wife says, “Mitt is a private person and considers it a privilege to help others… not something to take credit for on the campaign trail.

But taken together, the stories point to a central contradiction between Romney the candidate and Romney the person. In short, a man painted by the Obama administration as a heartless corporate raider who can’t relate to people actually has a history of doing remarkably kind things for those in need; many people close to Romney find the contradiction maddening.

“The people that know him — the picture the media paints is not the Mitt that I know,” Romney’s oldest son, Tagg, told The Daily. “And I wish I could do something about it. I can’t tell you how many people tell me that.”

Democrats scoff that whatever good Romney has done in his personal life doesn’t mean his policies would be any less destructive for those same struggling people.

“No one is questioning whether or not Mitt Romney has a nice family or has lived a life of success in which he’s tried to give something back,” said Jen Psaki, a Democratic strategist and former communications staffer in the Obama White House. “But that doesn’t matter to people who are still struggling, families that are trying to pay for college, people trying to pay for health insurance, middle class families who are trying to make ends meet. Romney hasn’t shown a plan to help them. That’s what voters are looking for, and he leaves a lot to be desired on that front.” 

Romney actually has laid out a very detailed plan, and did so during the primaries.  It is posted on his website.  And now he and the partner as Romney and the campaign call vice presidential candidate, Paul Ryan, have a short 5-point plan they talk about on the stump.  The Romney-Ryan plan will create 12 million jobs.

Rick Wilson, a Florida-based Republican strategist who is not affiliated with the Romney campaign said recently “I do think they should tell the personal stories because it rounds out who Mitt is… and he is a great guy! It also shows people that here’s a man who lives his personal values — he’s not just a politician. The fact that they never made a big deal out of this stuff says something itself.”

Romney and the Romney campaign needed to tell Mitt’s personal side tales and finally did as well as shining a light on his faith at the Republican National Convention and in at least two recent interviews with CNN as well as with Chris Wallace on Fox.  (There have also been several brutal indictments on Mormonism showcased by the liberal media lately, so beware.  Something that is pretty surprising for a party who put up the first Catholic, John F. Kennedy, for president, who generally promotes secularism (so why should anyone’s religion matter to them) and bristles at comments about President Obama’s connections to or at least his affinity for Islam and who consider themselves so welcoming… noted by evangelical and former Governor of Arkansas and 2008 GOP presidential primary candidate Mike Huckabee in his speech at the Republican Convention in Tampa.)

Mike Huckabee stated:

“Let me clear the air about whether guys like me would only support an evangelical … I care far less as to where Mitt Romney takes his family to church than I do about where he takes this country.”

Video: Pam Finlayson's Full RNC Speech 8/30/12

Video: Touching Story of Oparowskis and Mitt Romney

A top Romney strategist said, the campaign has preferred not to engage in an argument over likability against a personally popular president at the expense of fostering Romney’s image as a fix-it man for the economy.  But each day, President Obama is showing the American people that he really isn’t capable, isn’t up for the job and isn’t even such a nice guy.  And just in the days running up to the Democrat National Convention the attacks on Romney, Ryan and the Republican National Convention coming from the left have been baseless, mean-spirited and in many cases down right lies… whereas, even agreed to by the media from both sides, the tone of the GOP Convention with few exceptions was overall positive.

There is no escaping the fact that Romney’s many kind acts, some of which were first reported in the recent book “The Real Romney” were sharply at odds with his persona on the campaign trail before the convention.  But both Ann Romney and Mitt’s acceptance speech showed America a very different Mitt.

Stories like those highlighted above and many more are legion, like Romney gathering neighbors in a quick effort to clear out a burning house until firefighters arrived on the scene. Showing up unsolicited to clear a hornet’s nest near an injured church member’s house. Organizing a New York City search for a business partner’s missing daughter… a story actually told by Romney’s campaign in a 2008 ad reprised by a super PAC supporting him this year.

Religion aside, any politician who talks up his good deeds runs a risk of appearing a bit too fond of himself, something President Obama has been accused of more than once. But with Romney unable to shake off his buttoned-up corporate image, constantly pushed by Team Obama, sharing his personal experiences and inner self was crucial and it appears they hit the right note at the convention… although now the left is complaining that the RNC convention didn’t have enough meat, even though Romney and the RNC accomplished exactly what they needed to.

“People need to get to know a man who’s a potential president of the United States,” said GOP strategist Wilson . “The more you fill in the blanks the better for Romney.  It makes him human and it mitigates the plutocrat attacks.”  The personalization of Mitt Romney made a lot of Americans believe when he said:  'My Promise Is to Help You and Your Family' 

 17 Million Evangelical Voters… Who Did Not Vote in 2008, Can Lead to Obama's Defeat and from what the latest polls and buzz on twitter, facebook and the blogosphere are showing, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have now tapped into that vote.  The GOP convention also made it very clear that there is no conservative or Romney war on women and that the Republican tent includes blacks, Latinos and people of all stripes.

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are the right men for the times.  They have the know how and ideas that President Obama and his team are lacking to turn around America’s economy, create jobs and take control of the run-away debt.  Why would anyone believe that another 4-years of Obama-Biden will make anything better with his/their record…. Especially when you can have a successful businessman with the added experience as both a Governor and leading a project as large as turning around the Utah Olympics… plus having the Chairman of House Budget Committee on the team, in Romney-Ryan instead?  The choice has never been clearer. Even Obama realizes that Romney and his advisors know what they are doing… He has now hired two former Bain guys to takeover the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  And the Obama’s are so sure that America will make the right choice that they have already bought a new house in Hawaii with a move-in date of January 2013.

Mitt Romney Convention Intro Video

CBS Airs Shocking, Must-See Positive Video About Mitt Romney

For anyone who missed Romney’s Convention Speech… See: Mitt Romney Gets Personal in Fiery and Poignant Speech – He Gave America a True Choice

Former Clinton strategist and advisor Dick Morris said, “Romney's speech last night at the GOP Convention hit the mark. ‘If Obama tries to be JFK eloquent but remote, Romney was Reagan last night. He was open, approachable, empathetic and idealistic. Tune in!’”

And Michael Reagan said: “Romney could not be better. When Dad died we lost AMERICAS cheerleader -- TONIGHT we have a new one. Bravo!”

The RNC played a Reagan Tribute early in the evening on the final night at the convention

Personal Romney Information:

· His full Name is: Willard Mitt Romney.

· He was Born: March 12, 1947 and is 65 years old.

· His Father: George W. Romney, former Governor of the State of Michigan.

· He was Raised in: Bloomfield Hills , Michigan.

· He is Married to: Ann Lois (Davies) Romney since 1969; they have five children. (Mitt says his kids and grandkids are his main hobby, not golf or tennis. They sent out Christmas cards of the ‘whole’ family, like above, as governor.)

· Education: (One year at Stanford) and then completed his B.A. from Brigham Young University, J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard University. 

· Religion: Mormon The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. (Ann converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1966 on her own while Mitt was gone on his mission).

Working Background:

· After high school, he spent 30 months in France as a Mormon missionary. After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School simultaneously, he passed the Michigan bar, but never worked as an attorney.

· In 1984, he co-founded Bain Capital a private equity investment firm, one of the largest such firms in the United States.

· In 1994, he ran for Senator of Massachusetts and lost to Ted Kennedy.

· He was President and C.E.O. of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

· In 2002, he was elected Governor of the State of Massachusetts where he eliminated a 1.5 billion deficit (and their unemployment was around 4.5%).

Some Interesting and Noteworthy Facts about Romney:

· Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in Massachusetts , turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores employing 90,000 people.

· Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like Domino’s, Sealy, Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot Supply, Bright Horizons, and many others.

· He was an unpaid volunteer campaign worker for his dad’s gubernatorial campaign 1 year.

· He accompanied and campaigned all over Michigan (unpaid) with his mother when she ran for Senator.

· He was an unpaid intern in his dad’s governor’s office for eight years.

· He was an unpaid bishop and stake president of his church for ten years.

· He was an unpaid President of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for three years.

· He took no salary and was the unpaid Governor of Massachusetts for four years.

· He gave his entire inheritance from his parents to charity.

· Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest self-made men in our country but has given more back to its citizens in terms of money, service and time than most men.

If you think you still need to know more about Mitt Romney here are a few reading suggestions: The Real Romney, No Apology, Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games, The Mormon Way of Doing Business: How Nine Western Boys Reached the Top of Corporate America  And check out his detailed plan at: http://www.mittromney.com/

Related:

In testimonials, Romney's faith and selflessness takes spotlight

Olympians endorse Romney and address 2012 Republican Convention

Democrat Jane Edmonds, Former Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, addresses the 2012 Republican National Convention

Mitt Romney: What I Learned at Bain Capital

New site:  Women For Romney 2012

You Know It Is Over When Michael Moore Says: “I Think People Should Start To Practice The Word’s President Romney"

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A Sneak Peek At Ann Romney's Speech

Here are a few snippets the Romney campaign released of Ann Romney's speech, which she'll deliver tonight at the Republican convention in Tampa:

Tonight I want to talk to you from my heart about our hearts.

“I want to talk not about what divides us, but what holds us together as an American family. I want to talk to you tonight about that one great thing that unites us, that one thing that brings us our greatest joy when times are good, and the deepest solace in our dark hours.

“Tonight I want to talk to you about love. …

“Mitt's dad never graduated from college. Instead, he became a carpenter.

“He worked hard, and he became the head of a car company, and then the governor of Michigan.

“When Mitt and I met and fell in love, we were determined not to let anything stand in the way of our life together. …

“I read somewhere that Mitt and I have a ‘storybook marriage.’ Well, in the storybooks I read, there were never long, long, rainy winter afternoons in a house with five boys screaming at once. And those storybooks never seemed to have chapters called MS or Breast Cancer.

“A storybook marriage? No, not at all. What Mitt Romney and I have is a real marriage. …

“At every turn in his life, this man I met at a high school dance, has helped lift up others. He did it with the Olympics, when many wanted to give up. …
“This is the man America needs.

“This is the man who will wake up every day with the determination to solve the problems that others say can't be solved, to fix what others say is beyond repair. This is the man who will work harder than anyone so that we can work a little less hard.

“I can't tell you what will happen over the next four years. But I can only stand here tonight, as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an American, and make you this solemn commitment:

“This man will not fail.
“This man will not let us down.
“This man will lift up America!”

Ann Romney is Governor Romney's secret weapon. That's exactly why the Obama Media alphabet networks won't carry this live.

I hope she discusses, as she did earlier on CNN the way Governor Romney cared for her when she was ill with MS.

Oh and by the way, Ann Romney has always been proud of her country.

h/t to JoshuaPundit

RNC Convention Modified Three-Day Convention Schedule

Ann Romney and Chris Christie speak tonight…

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RNC Announces Modified Three-Day Convention Schedule – Updated Here

The Original Posted Republican National Convention Speaker Lineup

On Sunday Mitt Romney's campaign laid out an updated three-day Republican National Convention schedule that incorporated a number of speakers, including former Democrat-turned Republican Rep. Artur Davis (Ala.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), whose Monday sessions had been cancelled due to Tropical Storm Isaac as a safety precaution. GOP officials confirmed that the 2012 Republican National Convention will primarily take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, due to weather complications.

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann leave Brewster Academy after finishing convention preparations for the day on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012 in Wolfeboro, N.H. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Monday's schedule has been reduced to a five-minute pro forma session, comprised of party chairman Reince Priebus gaveling in the convention. This act will also trigger a running public debt clock, which will track the amount of national debt accrued by the US government over the four-day stretch.

The "official business" of nominating Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will take place Tuesday afternoon. Convention organizers said they were able to incorporate all of Monday's "headliner" speakers into the truncated program by eliminating some program elements deemed to be "non essential," and by tailoring a few speeches to be slightly shorter. Party officials said Monday's theme -- "we can do better" -- will be woven into the final three nights.

As for reports and rumors about a potential Friday session, officials said they have no plans for that, and declined to discuss the "hypothetical" scenario any further. The new convention schedule is below. The limited 10-11pm ET hours, which the broadcast networks will carry live (shame on them because these are national conventions that all Americans should watch and especially if they plan to vote! ), have not been altered. Bolded speeches indicate "prime-primetime" addresses. All times are approximate:

Monday, August 27, 2012

2:00 p.m. Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus

Call to Order/Start Debt Clocks

2:10 p.m. Announcement of Recess

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

2:00 p.m. Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus

Color Guard Knights of Columbus

Pledge of Allegiance by Former Governor Tim Babcock (MT)/ Tom Hogan (FL)

National Anthem sung by Philip Alongi

Invocation by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik

Opening procedural steps, appointment of convention committees

Welcoming remarks, and House and Senate candidates and RNC auxiliaries

RNC Chairman Priebus

RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn

Convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris

Chairman of Tampa Bay Host Committee Al Austin

Republican Congressional Candidates

State Delegate Barbara Comstock (VA)

Representative Tim Griffin (AR)

Republican Senate Candidates

Republican National Committee auxiliaries

Consideration of convention committee reports

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus

Committee on Credentials Chairman Mike Duncan

Committee on Permanent Organization Chairwoman Zoraida Fonalledas

Convention Permanent Chairman Speaker John Boehner, Presiding

Official Convention Photograph

Committee on Rules Chairman John Sununu

Committee on Resolutions Chairman Governor Bob McDonnell

Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Senator John Hoeven

Committee on Resolutions Co-Chairman U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn

Roll Call for Nomination of President of the United States

Roll Call for Nomination of Vice President of the United States

6:40 p.m. Recess

7:00 p.m. Reconvene

Remarks by Speaker John Boehner

Remarks by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus

Video and remarks by Mayor Mia Love (Saratoga Springs, UT), U.S. congressional candidate

Remarks by Janine Turner

Remarks by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum

Remarks by Host, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

8:00 p.m. Remarks by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (NH), accompanied by Jack Gilchrist

Remarks by Governor John Kasich (OH)

Remarks by Governor Mary Fallin (OK)

Remarks by Governor Bob McDonnell (VA), accompanied by Bev Gray

Remarks by Governor Scott Walker (WI)

9:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor Brian Sandoval (NV)

Remarks by Sher Valenzuela (small business owner, candidate for DE Lt. Governor)

Remarks by Senate Republican Candidate Ted Cruz (TX)

Remarks by Artur Davis

Remarks by Governor Nikki Haley (SC)

10:00 p.m. Remarks by Mrs. Luce' Vela Fortuño

Remarks by Mrs. Ann Romney

Remarks by Governor Chris Christie (NJ)

Benediction by Sammy Rodriguez

Adjournment

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

7:00 p.m. Convention convenes

Call to order

Introduction of Colors by Amputee Veterans of America Support Team (AVAST)

Pledge of Allegiance by Brigadier General Patrick E. Rea, US Army (Ret.)

National Anthem sung by Ayla Brown

Invocation by Ishwar Singh

Ron Paul Video

Remarks by Senate Republican Leader and Convention Temporary Chairman Mitch McConnell (KY)

Remarks by Senator Rand Paul (KY)

Remarks by Christopher Devlin-Young and Jeanine McDonnell

8:00 p.m. Remarks by Senator John McCain (AZ)

Remarks by Attorney General Pam Bondi (FL) and Attorney General Sam Olens (GA)

Remarks by Governor Bobby Jindal (LA) – Bobby Jindal cancelled early Monday morning because of Hurricane Isaac

Remarks by Senator John Thune (SD)

Remarks by Senator Rob Portman (OH)

9:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor Luis Fortuño (PR)

Remarks by Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN)

Bush 41, 43 Film

Remarks by Mike Huckabee

10:00 p.m. Remarks by Condoleezza Rice

Remarks by Governor Susana Martinez (NM)

Remarks by vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan

Benediction by Archbishop Demetrios

Adjournment

Thursday, August 30, 2012

7:00 p.m. Convention convenes

Call to order

Introduction of Colors US Central Command Joint Forces Color Guard Team

Pledge of Allegiance by Dylan Nonaka

National Anthem sung by SEVEN

Invocation by Ken and Priscilla Hutchins

Remarks by U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (FL)

Reagan Legacy Video

*Remarks by Newt and Callista Gingrich – notable additions from the original released schedule

Remarks by Craig Romney

8:00 p.m. Remarks by Governor former Jeb Bush (FL)

Remarks by Bob White, chairman of Romney for President campaign

Remarks by Grant Bennett

Remarks by Tom Stemberg

9:00 p.m. Remarks by former Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey

Remarks by Jane Edmonds, former Massachusetts Secretary of Workforce

Remarks by Olympians Michael Eruzione, Derek Parra and Kim Rhode

10:00 p.m. Remarks by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL)

Remarks by presidential nominee Mitt Romney

Benediction by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan - Cardinal Dolan to offer closing prayer at Republican Convention

Speaker Boehner declares convention adjourned

For more information on the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, check out RNC 2012 page for all the information you need regarding the convention.

FOX News announces GOP convention coverage schedule

FOX Business Network Presents Live Coverage of The Republican National Convention

Official website of the 2012 Republican National Convention

One GOP Convention Session to be Themed “We Built That”

And if anyone questions the bias of the media their coverage of the GOP Convention should settle it. RNC chairman chides TV networks over convention programming:

ABC and CBS will each air one hour of prime time convention programming on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights of both the Republican and Democratic conventions. NBC will mirror the other networks in coverage of the RNC, but at the DNC, will air one hour of primetime programming on Tuesday and two hours on Thursday.

But unlike the Democrats, who have no events on the Monday before their three-day convention, Republicans have four days of podium action and a full slate of speakers for Monday night. The networks are not taking any of that nights programming live in primetime. CNN Promises ‘Unbiased’ Convention Coverage

RNC: Ann Romney to address convention Tuesday Republican National Convention officials say Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, will speaking during prime-time television coverage of the event. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a rising national figure in the party Gives Prime Time Speaking Slot to Ann Romney. Mitt Romney was disappointed in networks! Now with Hurricane Isaac Monday night ended up being cancelled and the gulf governors have had to cancel and stay in their states.

Related:

Republican National Convention 2012: Romney Accuses Obama Of Engaging In 'Low' Politics

Electoral College Prediction Model Points To A Mitt Romney Win In 2012

Gallup: 60 Percent of Americans Believe Media Are Biased … – The rest aren’t paying attention or drank the Kool Aid!

Romney in Crisis: Two Dark Spots in Fortunate Life

About Mitt Romney

Romney Tells Israel: “You Built That!”

Romney-Ryan: America’s New Dream Team and a Clear Choice

Romney-Ryan are just the guys to turn things around; the right team for the times!

 Must Reads Before Election 2012

Technorati Tags: GOP,RNC,Republican National Convention,GOP Convention,GOP Convention speakers,Election 2012,2012 Election,Mitt Romney,Ann Romney,Paul Ryan,MSM,liberal media bias,Romney-Ryan,Reince Priebus,CNN,Fox News,Conservative woman,No GOP War on Women

Multiple Sclerosis-Afflicted Neil Cavuto Slams MSNBC’s Attacks on Ann Romney: ‘Horse’s Asses’…

MSNBC’s continuous string of near slander against Mitt Romney has just spawned yet another aggressive bit of push-back, this time from Neil Cavuto of Fox News. You may recall that MSNBC anchor Lawrence O‘Donnell recently slammed Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann Romney, for claiming that she participates in the sport of dressage as therapy for her multiple sclerosis. According to O’Donnell, “There are a lot of things you can do to try to deal with MS. But come on, dressage does not appear in any of the more traditional courses of treatment.”

Turns out that that assertion is breathtakingly wrong, as Cavuto pointed out while citing multiple clinical organizations that treat multiple sclerosis and consider horse therapy a very traditional, and often very effective form of therapy. Watch his takedown here:

Cavuto Video to MsNBC: “Lean Forward – Bend Over! You… ‘Horses Asses’…

As you can plainly see, Cavuto doesn’t pull punches in this clip. “You’ve got a disease in your name – maybe you should stop calling names,” he starts the segment.

He then proceeds to go right for the jugular, while still remaining preternaturally calm, calling MSNBC a collection of “horse’s asses“ and slamming them as ”condescending, sanctimonious“ people with ”incredible ignorance” of multiple sclerosis treatments. He then points out that the horse riding therapy – known as “hippotherapy,” according to Cavuto – is used to treat walking conditions associated with multiple sclerosis. Quoting from the “industry bible” on neurology, Cavuto says straight out that “this is a legitimate therapy.”

Cavuto’s stern correction only serves to confirm the generally low opinion of MSNBC which is beginning to percolate amongst the rest of the media. Glenn Beck, for instance, hammered the network over its smear tactics on his radio show today after savaging their most recent factual errors:

“You have no credibility at all,” Beck thundered. “The ratings are going to tank on MSNBC, because Americans are fair.”

On a side note, setting aside the numerous factual errors on the network, Cavuto‘s takedown misses a blistering example of hypocrisy on the part of Lawrence O’Donnell. To complain about how particular therapies don’t appear on the “traditional” list, when the Left has pushed for numerous untested medical ideas, such as embryonic stem cell research and assisted suicide. Neither of these is in any way “traditional,” and O’Donnell is not on record opposing either of them, so why the selectiveness?

Hear and see Beck radio takedown of MSNBC video to fit their agenda:  Here

"If they (the liberal bias media) is that egregious at lying on that issue, what else are they lying about?"

RIDING AS THERAPY

Equine therapy is catching on as a fun and helpful activity for many MS patients.

One to three times a week a growing group of MS patients across the country saddle up to relieve some of their symptoms and to boost their self-esteem. Equine therapy is used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders besides MS, including mental illness, cerebral palsy, and brain injury. According to the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Inc. (NARHA) in Denver, Colorado, more than 26,000 riders with disabilities benefit from therapeutic horseback riding activities at NARHA centers.  Read full article here

Dim Bulb: Lawrence O'Donnell | WashingtonExaminer.com

Ann Romney’s Horse Comes in Third in Olympic Qualifying Event ...

Riding as Therapy

 

London 2012 Olympics: Mitt Romney's wife's horse Rafalca heading for Games

The Republican candidate to become the next American president, Mitt Romney, will be heading to the London Olympics to watch the opening ceremony – and he has a special interest in the Games now, after his wife's horse earned a berth on the US dressage team.

Going to the Games: Mitt Romney and wife Ann have a special interest in the Olympics after Rafalca, Mrs. Romney's horse, qualified for the dressage team Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Jan Ebeling, Ann Romney’s riding tutor, and his horse Rafalca, which she co-owns qualified for next month's Olympics on Saturday.

The 53-year-old Ebeling has been close to Games selection a decade, but his first Olympics will be in London after a third-place finish at the United States Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, Florida.

While Romney was continuing his campaign to defeat President Barack Obama on a bus tour of swing states, his wife watched the dressage action from a VIP tent as Ebeling managed to impress in his run with Rafalca.

“I only looked at the scoreboard one time, and it looked good, and I thought, don’t look again,” Ebeling, who entered the four-day competition ranked ninth in the United States, said.

Ann Romney has proved a deep-pocketed dressage patron, and thanks to her husband being in the public eye, she has single-handedly gained the sport more attention than it has ever received in America, in spite of celebrating its centenary in the Olympics.

Both Romneys have said that they will be attending the opening ceremony, and perhaps they will now find a way to buy some dressage tickets, too.

“The image of Romney as a privileged princeling ends today, because now Mitt is just your average blue-collar fan of dressage,” comedian Stephen Colbert was quoted as saying in The New York Times.

AnnDRomney Ann Romney It's great to be part of the Olympics again. We are so proud of Jan and Team USA. Now let's bring home the gold! http://t.co/wArZ7mAsAbout one week ago via web FavoriteRetweet Reply

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Remembering Ronnie: Nancy Reagan Places Bouquet of Roses on Ronnie’s Gravesite

Victoria Angulo/The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation

Newsmax

Nancy Reagan placed a bouquet of white roses on the gravesite of her late husband Ronald Reagan Tuesday to mark the eighth anniversary of the passing of one of America’s most beloved presidents.

Appearing frail in a red coat, the former first lady then sat by the 40th president’s gravesite at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Now 90, Nancy Reagan recently suffered broken ribs in a fall, and was reported to be recovering slowly.

The widow of President Reagan also made news recently by announcing her endorsement of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Having served lemonade and cookies to Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, at her Los Angeles home, she said that she is firmly behind the former Massachusetts governor.

She said that Romney has the experience and leadership skills that, in her words, "our country so desperately needs."

Reagan added that her "Ronnie" would have liked Romney's business background and what she calls his "strong principles."

 

On Anniversary Of His Death Watch Ronald Reagan Warn Us About Obama 40 yrs Ago

Daily Rushbo - 6-5-12 – h/t to GunnyG

Ronald Reagan wearing cowboy hat at Rancho del Cielo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

(Excerpt) Read more at dailyrushbo.com … via On Anniversary Of His Death Watch Ronald Reagan Warn Us About Obama 40 yrs Ago

--> Video: Reagan summed up Obama in the first 5 minutes of a speech over 40 years ago  <--

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Replica of Reagan Oval Office at the Reagan Library (Photo: the UCLA Shutterbug)

Technorati Tags: California,former first lady,former presidents,Ronald Reagan,remembering,Nancy Reagan,Mitt Romney,Mitt Romney 2012,Ann Romney,presidential libraries

And So It Begins… Ann Romney critic frequent White House visitor

There was a time when the goal of all Americans was to have moms stay home and raise their own children with their family’s values and run their households.  Look at this nice family.  Ann and Mitt Romney did a great job.  

Women married to businessmen often are also invaluable to their husbands in organizing entertainment, social and charity events as well as being active in their churches and their children’s schools; all of which is true of Ann Romney!

Ann Romney has M.S. & is a breast cancer survivor.  If she were a Democrat or a NOW member she would be a hero just for surviving.  But because she was a stay at home conservative mom married to the presumptive GOP nominee, where she is an invaluable asset… her life just isn’t enough?!?  Targeted by friend of radical Obama advisors Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod the low life Democrat Hillary Rosen, demeans stay at home moms.  

What is it with Progressive women?  Why is there this need to go after their more conservative sisters?  Look what they did to Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann for starters, both women have degrees, smarts, are successful in their own rights, have stable families and children, only married once to the same husband and are good looking to boot.  So why are they and more traditional conservative women like Laura Bush and Ann Romney fader for the left’s negative comments… while Hillary Clinton can do no wrong?  Envy would be my initial reaction!

As long as we allow the progressives to divide us, whether it is through using race, religion, color, politics, income level or personal preferences… they win and our nation, our values and principles and all groups lose!

Divide and conquer is part of the Progressive playbook that is in full use right now and will continue through the November election and into Obama’s second term and beyond, if there is one.  This week alone they have hit the Romneys on their religion, remodeling their home and now Ann being a stay at home mom.

Game on… the stakes are high.  And congratulations to Ann Romney for winning this round!

Ask Marion~

WND Exclusive: Democrat consult ant met with top Obama advisers Jarrett, Axelrod  

By Aaron Klein

While the Democratic National Committee was quick to distance itself today from marketing strategist Hilary Rosen, WND has found that Rosen held strategy meetings with top Obama aides Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod.

Rosen also sits on the board of a progressive organization described as the “idea factory” of the Obama administration.

Rosen is now under fire after she insulted Ann Romney and stay-at-home mothers, saying the wife of GOP candidate Mitt Romney never held a job.

“Guess what, his wife has actually never worked a day in her life,” Rosen said in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper about women’s issues.

Ann Romney took to Twitter to respond, writing, “I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.”

Rosen is a partner at SKD Knickerbocker, the public relations and strategy firm of former White House communications director Anita Dunn. SKD handled Obama’s 2008 campaign.

Among those distancing themselves from Rosen is David Axelrod, who tweeted his disapproval: “Also Disappointed in Hilary Rosen’s comments about Ann Romney. They were inappropriate and offensive.”

WND has found that Rosen held five White House meetings, including a March 11, 2009, meeting with Jarrett and a March 12, 2009, meeting with Axelrod described as a “communications message meeting.”

Rosen’s meeting with Axelrod was reported by the Associated Press and CBS News in November 2009.

CBS News noted Axelrod’s White House meeting with Rosen and 18 other strategists demonstrated “the political element of the health care debate.”

Rosen, meanwhile, serves as political director and Washington editor-at large for the Huffington Post and also is a regular commentator for CNN.

She’s on the board of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

The center is deeply involved in helping to influence White House policy under Obama.

Its founder, John Podesta, directed Obama’s 2009 transition into the White House.

Time magazine called CAP Obama’s “idea factory,” noting that “not since the Heritage Foundation helped guide Ronald Reagan’s transition in 1981 has a single outside group held so much sway.”

Time reported it is “difficult to overstate the influence in Obamaland of CAP.”

Rosen serves on the board of the George Soros-funded Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Creative Coalition.

Already, the DNC has commented on Rosen’s remarks, with an official telling Politico, “Hilary Rosen is not an adviser to the DNC. Our contract for media services is exclusively with Anita Dunn.”

Rosen took to Twitter to further her remarks, writing, “When I said on [CNN] Ann Romney never worked I meant she never had to care for her kids AND earn a paycheck like MOST American women!”

Rosen later tweeted that Mitt Romney “now makes up false concern for women’s economic struggle” and “he should stop saying that she is his guide to women’s economic problems. She doesn’t have any.”

Rosen seemed to backtrack a bit when she posted an explanation at the Huffington Post.

“I have nothing against Ann Romney,” Rosen wrote. “She seems like a nice lady who has raised nice boys and struggled with illness and handles their long term effects with grace and dignity. …What is more important to me and 57 percent of current women voters is her husband saying he supports women’s economic issue because they are the only issues that matter to us and then he fails on even those.”

But don’t feel sorry for Ann… Ann Romney destroys attacking Obama advisor in 1 tweet!  Obama advisor Hilary Rosen’s mockery of Ann Romney for ‘never having worked a day in her life’ backfired in a huge way. Given she is a mother of 5 boys, has M.S. & is a breast cancer survivor - trying to go after her for ‘never working’ is not smart (and not true). Ann joined Twitter and dismissed Rosen in 1 tweet.

TPN:  Low Life Democrat Hilary Rosen Attacks Stay at Home Moms